Reincarnated As The Villainess's Son

"Stop running, Maria!"

A gentle breeze rushed past a woman running slowly after a little boy.

Her dark brown hair cascaded over her shoulders, touching her knees as she moved.

Her stomach was round and full, a clear sign of the life growing within her.

A man with blonde hair rushed behind her, trying to stop her.

"You can't catch me~." Maria turned her head, sticking out her little pink tongue.

She giggled softly while gazing back at her son.

"Luis, stop running, or else no ice cream for you!" Having no luck with his wife, he said to his son.

"No!" Luis stopped in his tracks, turning toward his father. "You can't do that."

Maria also stopped, crouching down as she hugged him, her smile brightening even more.

"You shouldn't run in your condition, Maria," Delwyn sighed, crouching down to hug her from behind.

She smiled, turning her head to kiss his cheek. "You worry too much."

"How could I not worry?" he grumbled, sitting down on the field of grass. His gaze rested on his wife while his son shrugged away from Maria's hug.

She leaned her back against his chest, finding a position to be more comfortable. They sat silently for a while, feeling the gentle evening light on their faces.

"How are things going?" Maria asked, the back of her head on his shoulder. "...The situation with the kingdom and church."

"Don't worry about that," Delwyn replied, his hazel eyes gazing down at his wife. "You shouldn't stress about all this."

"Come on, don't be like that," Maria replied, pouting a little. "At least don't treat me like some outsider."

"You're going to give birth any day," he said, instinctively moving his hand to touch her swollen stomach. "Don't think about kingdom matters."

"Hey, listen here, will you?" Shifting her body, she turned to face him, her hand stretched to touch his cheek.

"You don't realize how fast you've been running, how hard you've been working, how truly exhausted you are until someone stands behind you."

Delwyn smiled, placing his hand over hers. "...It's fine. Don't worry about me."

"No." She replied, pouting. Standing on her knees, she placed both hands behind his back. "It's OK. You can fall now. I'll catch you."

...So he gently fell down.

...And Maria caught him.

"Now, tell me what's happening?" she asked, patting his head.

"It's... not good," Delwyn mumbled, closing his eyes, his head resting gently on her chest. "...The church is pressuring us."

"For the Ancestral Sword?" she asked, her voice soft.

"Yes." Delwyn nodded slowly. "...They say Elohim's Avatar is either about to be born or is already within Lumina."

"They want the sword back so they can pass it to him?" Maria guessed, and he nodded.

"They refuse to listen to any of our requests." With a tired sigh, he straightened his back, looking at her. "...I don't know how we're going to keep the sword."

"Don't worry, it will be fine," Maria replied, smiling brightly.

Delwyn nodded, smiling back as he stood up, watching his son run after a small butterfly.

"Any idea who could be his Avatar?" Maria asked while Delwyn helped her stand on her feet.

"Even the church doesn't have any idea," Delwyn replied, making her giggle a little.

"It would be hilarious if someone from our family turned out to be his Avatar," she said, her hand intertwining with his.

"Indeed it would be," he replied, smiling gently.

"Maybe it could be our son," she mumbled, a dreamy look on her face. "...That would be nice as well."

"It doesn't have to be our son," Delwyn mumbled, walking in the endless field with her. "...How about Asher? He could be one, though I doubt that."

"Hey, don't say that about your only nephew," she replied, gently slapping his arm.

Smiling, he kissed her lightly on the head. "...Sorry, you know I care for him as much as Alisa does."

"You should, mister," she replied, feigning strictness.

His gaze moved back to his son as the sun lowered on the horizon. "...Have I ever told you how much I love you?"

"Oh, you love me?" she asked, a teasing smile on her face.

"Of course," he replied without a second thought.

Her smile widened as she replied, "You know, love is always patient and kind. It is never jealous."

"Have I ever been jealous of anything?" he asked, tilting his head.

"Hmm, I don't know, have you?" she asked, grinning widely.

"I was never jealous of anyone," he scoffed, shaking his head. "...It's not like someone can take you away from me."

She giggled softly, her hands touching her own belly.

"By the way... I visited Alisa again," he informed her, making her curious. "...I also visited David and his family, like you asked."

"Yeah, did you see her daughter?" Maria replied, an excited look on her face. "The last time I saw her, she was so cute, I just loved her face!"

"She is cute." He nodded in agreement. "...I'm sure she'll be a beautiful lady one day."

"Of course," Maria nodded, her feet moving toward a plant. "...I hope she can be friends with Asher, like Alisa was with David."

"...Yeah," Delwyn replied awkwardly, not wanting his nephew to face the same fate as David.

Maria instantly recognized his awkwardness. She whispered, "Don't worry, aren't there talks between David and Alisa about marriage between their children?"

"There are," Delwyn nodded in reply, sighing.

She gently bent down, her hand moving forward to pick a six-petal flower from the plant. "...Look, isn't it beautiful?"

He remained silent, looking at her hand and the flower. "...That's your favorite flower, right?"

"Don't you know me well, mister?" she replied, grinning as she passed the flower to him.

He smiled, taking the flower from her hand.

"Delwyn." Leaning on his body again, she whispered softly.

"Yeah?" Delwyn whispered back.

"If something happens to me during childbirth—."

"Nothing will happen to you," he cut in, his voice firm. "...I won't let anything happen to you. I promise."

...

...

...

The sound of wood burning echoed in the dark forest.

The sun had already set, making the forest even more eerie.

A man with blonde hair sat quietly beside a fire, his tired hazel eyes fixed on the burning flame.

"Are you sure about this?" His gaze turned to his side as he heard a voice.

A tall man in his early thirties with black hair and eyes stood beside him. He had distinct skin, close to blue, with two small horns adorning his head like a crown.

"About what, Kurt?" he asked, returning his gaze to the fire.

"Don't act like this, Delwyn." Kurt rebuked, glaring at him. "...You weren't supposed to be here."

"But here I am..." Delwyn replied, clearly not interested in talking.

"By force!"

"But still here," he replied, his voice monotonous.

"Whatever." Kurt grumbled, gazing up at Delwyn's face. "Your presence will make my work easier."

Delwyn nodded in agreement without saying anything.

"Where are the others?" Kurt asked, his gaze still on the fire.

"They will come as soon as we get the signal," Kurt replied.

They fell silent again.

Kurt looked around, noticing a few Darths moving nearby, but because of their aura, they didn't approach them. His gaze returned to Delwyn as he asked curiously, "...How did you get that mark anyway?"

"I burned myself," Delwyn replied, touching the mark running down his neck.

They remained awkward for a while, as Kurt's every attempt to talk was answered curtly.

"Hmm?" Delwyn looked at his watch, which started beeping at regular intervals.

"She did it," he whispered softly, looking at his watch.

Kurt grumbled, gazing up at the rainy sky. "...About time we move."

"Not now," Delwyn said, looking up at him. "Our main focus is to lure Esmeray here, remember?"

"Give up on that, Delwyn. There's nothing important enough to bring her here." Kurt frowned, glaring at him. "Did you forget what the leader said?"

"...Don't try to mess with her."

"And you're doing just that."

"He also said that he would take care of her if she showed up," Delwyn nodded in response. "...I know what I'm doing. Don't worry."

"Tch." Kurt clicked his tongue in annoyance before turning around. "...I'm going to find the Maiden. We need to kill her first."

"Then I will look for the Avatar," Delwyn replied softly.

"Good luck." Saying that, Kurt walked into the forest, vanishing as he moved.

"Sigh..."

Sighing heavily, Delwyn gazed down at his hand.

A crystal emerged, breaking into a cluster before transforming into a beautiful six-petal flower.

"I couldn't keep my promise," he whispered softly, looking at the flower. "...I couldn't do it."

A lightning flash illuminated the surroundings. A tear trickled down his cheek as he kept his gaze on the flower.

"...I'm sorry," he whispered earnestly. "...For what is going to happen to that

child you liked so much."

His expression hardened as he took a deep breath, steeling his resolve.

"...Three choices," he whispered, curling his hand and breaking the flower into pieces.

His gaze turned toward the island's center as he whispered again, "...Three choices... you have to choose one."